Henderson seeking another major boost with Sir Gino

Fresh from working minor miracles with Constitution Hill, the pressure does not let up for Nicky Henderson, who sends for his chasing debut against none other than in the Ladbrokes Wayward Lad Novices’ Chase at Kempton.

Sir Gino was a leading juvenile hurdler last season but was forced to miss the Cheltenham Festival along with a host of his stablemates due to concerns about the strength of Henderson’s string at that time.

He bounced back to beat Triumph runner-up Kargese at Aintree and on his sole outing this term won the Fighting Fifth Hurdle when acting as Constitution Hill’s super-sub, but with worries about the latter’s health now allayed, Henderson wanted to split his two big aces.

In the Willie Mullins-trained Ballyburn, though, he is facing a Cheltenham Festival winner who already has a run over fences to his credit.

The Irish raider carries the same Ronnie Bartlett colours that were sported by Paul Townend to victory in the King George on Banbridge.

“Ronnie won the King George, we won the Christmas Hurdle and now we’re taking each other on!” said Henderson.

“It will be a hell of a race, whatever happens.

“I should think it’s a rare thing, a Fighting Fifth winner having his next run over fences, but you can all probably see why we did it now (having seen Constitution Hill win), otherwise we’d have had to have a dust-up and no-one particularly wanted that.

“He’s been very good at home but this will be another day, he’s schooled since Newcastle and while he’s a four-year-old going chasing, Willie has done it with Majborough as well.

“His schooling was very, very good, consequently that became the idea of where we could go. If it’s not right, then we can switch back. It will be interesting.”